Yahoo Autos 2024 Toyota bZ4X Review: A ground ball single up the middle
Pros: Good value with FWD; a relatively conventional small SUV; ample cargo space for the segment; high ground clearance for an EV
Cons: Subpar range with AWD; slower to charge than some rivals; shine-in-your-eyes interior trim; hide-your-eyes styling
The 2024 Toyota bZ4X represents the second year on the market for Toyota’s first mass-market electric vehicle, and there are very few changes. It still represents a very cautious dipping of the toe into the battery-electric market with a safely and conservatively styled competitor in the popular compact crossover segment. The bZ4X doesn’t really do anything to raise the bar in terms of design, technology or electric powertrain. It’s a safe bet for someone, likely a repeat Toyota buyer, who likes the looks and feel of their RAV4 but wants to go fully electric. If that sounds like you, just know there are better options out there.
It's also important to know that it is a virtual twin of the Subaru Solterra. One key difference: the Toyota bZ4X is available with either front- or all-wheel drive, whereas the Solterra is predictably AWD only. Its standard front-drive layout also stands it apart from many other EVs whose two-wheels-driven (and cheapest) option is usually a rear-wheel-drive layout. That means that going the value route with the base XLE FWD trim means you’ll secure the most driving range — 258 miles — while sacrificing little in drivability in the Snowbelt. Moving to all-wheel-drive or to the higher Limited trim, though, you’ll end up with lackluster driving range while taking a bigger hit to your pocketbook.
But that entry-level bZ4X does present a decent value with an appropriate level of equipment, interior quality and range. But someone asking more of their EV, and of the money they put down for it, will probably be better off with a Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6 or Volkswagen ID.4 rather than opt for a more expensive Toyota.
Interior & Technology | Passenger & Cargo Space | Performance & Fuel Economy
What it's like to drive | Pricing & Trim Levels | Crash Ratings & Safety Features
What's new for 2024?
The 2024 bZ4X carries over with a few minor changes to standard equipment. All versions now come with a dual-level (Level 1 and Level 2) mobile charging cord. The Advanced Park hands-free parking assist is standard on the Limited trim. The XLE trim gets a standard power liftgate and eight-way power driver’s seat. There’s updated charging information for range and charging time estimates in the infotainment system. Toyota also offers a year of free public charging at EVGo stations.
Also, you’ll see a small increase in pricing across the board.
What are the bZ4X interior and in-car technology like?
The bZ4X strikes a nice balance between functionality and achieving the more futuristic aesthetic typically demanded of an EV. Basically, it’s not too weird. There are physical toggles for temperature settings and the accompanying touch-sensitive climate buttons are illuminated and responsive enough (that said, we’d prefer a volume knob). The shifter is yet another new-fangled design that’s different for different’s sake, but is also easy enough to figure out. More basic vehicle functions are still served by buttons and stalks. We also like the abundance of storage up front, including an enclosed bin for your smartphone.
Unfortunately, that bin’s cover and the surrounding trim are gloss black, which horribly attracts fingerprints and managed to consistently reflect the sun into our eyes while driving. The gray fabric on the dash is a much more successful and glare-free interior adornment.
In-car technology is dominated by a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen, which is now common throughout the Toyota/Lexus empire. The graphics look good, and the system reacts quickly, but it’s a royal pain to click-click-click between the native Toyota system and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. The navigation system also defaults back to its preferred map layout every time you open a different menu (we clicked North Up for a reason!), and there are some radio system layout oddities as well.
The bZ4X features a unique digital instrument panel placed roughly in between where traditional gauges and a head-up display would be in your line of sight. This means it’s above the wheel rim rather than under it. Shorter drivers might find the rim blocks some of the display’s bottom, but taller drivers should be fine.
How big is the bZ4X?
The bZ4X is about 4 inches longer and 2 inches lower than a RAV4, with 2.5 fewer inches of rear legroom, but that still makes it a compact SUV – just a slightly smaller one, not unlike a Mazda CX-5. It may be less able to fit a rear-facing child seat without scooting a front seat forward as a result of this.
Cargo space is also restricted compared to conventional compact SUVs because of its fastback roofline. The RAV4 has nearly 10 cubic-feet more volume than the bZ4X’s official figure of 27.7 cubic-feet. That said, our luggage test revealed that it could hold more stuff than the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Mustang Mach-E and Kia’s EV6 and Niro EV. Only the Volkswagen ID.4 proved to be more functional in the segment.
